Two years on, the vegetable vendors at the Kalimati market still wonder what caused the deadly fire that killed six people and gutted more than 200 stalls incurring millions of rupees in losses for the humble shopkeepers.

Although a preliminary investigation into the huge fire that broke out at 10:30pm on March 4 in 2012 suggested an electric short circuit as the cause, the government authorities have failed to form a judicial commission as demanded by the victims to probe the incident.

“We still don’t know what caused the fire that killed our friends as no one has shared anything related to the investigation process to us,” said Bhuwan Shrestha, a ginger vendor at Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market. “The families of those killed in the incident have not received adequate compensation by the authorities. And the shops destroyed during the incident await reconstruction and proper rehabilitation.”

Kalimati Fruits and Vegetables Market, the largest vegetable wholesale market located in the heart of the Capital, was engulfed in flames that spread across the building harbouring the market and destroyed shops.

Six people, including four members of a family, were killed in the fire that was contained after more than three hours. The market, which spreads over 45 ropanies, supplies around 650 tons of vegetables and logs an average daily transaction of Rs 20 million. There are 381 wholesale and 75 retail vegetable stalls.

The market remained completely closed on Tuesday to mark the second anniversary of the tragic incident and put pressure on the concerned authorities to provide adequate compensation and rehabilitation package. According to the local vendors operatingshops inside the market, the day has been marked as ‘Black day’ on their

calendar.

Meanwhile Arjun Prasad Aryal, director at the Kathmandu Fruits and Vegetables Market Development Board, said the families of the deceased were provided with Rs 150,000

each as compensation and relief package.

Of the total amount, Rs 25,000 was provided for each family to perform funeral rites of the death member.

The board had forwarded the demand of the shopkeepers to form a judicial commission to investigate the incident to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives but

without success, Aryal explained. “The ministry had formed a probe committee soon after the incident, but I don’t have any information on findings so far.”

Meanwhile, the reconstruction and rehabilitation of the destroyed building has been started recently. “We are also working to integrate safety measures while planning for the new structures inside the market,” he added.